Unsigned '07's

D-1 schools will have some openings in the spring after the draft.

Go out and have a great season and see what happens.

Promote yourself.

Consider D-2, D-3, JC and NAIA Schools.

Doesn't hurt to contact the schools that you may be interested in and let them know the situation. Every program was after the top level guys in the early signing period. There is still an evaluation period in the spring for those who haven't committed. Not every school is able to sign who they wanted and they may still have some needs to fill. Plus some kids are late bloomers, or played behind someone and may not get the recognition or opportunity to shine until they are in their senior year. Lots of schools keep follow up lists for this reason.

Academics will open more doors and provide more money for most kids than baseball. There is money available to good students at all levels with or without baseball as a factor.

If you check some of the schools web sites. The news archives will show that there are some players that are signed during the spring season. Last spring UI signed a RHP and a C/1B during the spring. I know one of these players was coming off a knee injury that prevented him from playing during the summer/fall of sr. year. He had a great spring and that brought attention to him.

It's never to late. Write some of the schools that you have interest in, explain your situation and your attributes. Include contact info, grades, references and your spring schedule. I'm sure local coaches will take the time to drop by. Diamond in the rough.

I dont mean to pee in your Cheerios, but it should also be stated that there is very little D1 money left at this point. While I think that you should have the player keep an open mind, and I would agree with all of the other posts, they so seem a bit optimistic. Sure there are success stories at this stage of the process, but realistically, it is an uphill battle.

bally,
Can you share with me how you know there is "very little D1 money available"?

I would say there is "very little" D 1 money available from Day 1, even before the signing period.

Football 80 Scholarships
Softball 13 Scholarships
Baseball 11.7 Scholarships
Some schools don't use all 11.7 allowed by NCAA for 25 to 35 person rosters.

Major universities such as Wisconsin dropping baseball all together

Gotta love that Title 9

CPLZ-
I can definitely tell you that there is little D1 money left right now. Using the info stated below about the 11.7 scholarships we can see that everyone getting 50% would give you around 23.5 players to deal with. Most D1 schools carry around 25-30 players with the top hitters and pitchers getting a little more than 50%. How much of that money do you think is getting used already for the 07-08' season on returning players? How much money do you think is earmarked for freshman? Of the money that is earmarked for freshman how much is gone? The truth is most D1 schools are done with this 07' recruiting barring drafts and injuries. D1's are always looking for good players that want to walk on and earn scholarship money.
I would suggest to this player that he revaluate where he best fits in now next year in college because of this injury setback. There is no shame in going to a good, average, or even bad JC and showing D1 schools that you can play. It's way cheaper too!

Keep working hard,
Justin Stringer
Do It Right Baseball
www.doitrightbaseball.com
HSBASEBALLWEB Sponsor

Justin,
Although I understand that the majority of scholarship money is spent for fall, my impression about what is available for spring differs from what you and others have said. Realize please, that I have no background in these matters on which to draw my conclusions other than the current situation with my own son.

Because of illness he did not sign in the fall. In spite of this, there are D1 offers on the table now, which means that these schools do have at least some monies available. Also, during the fall, schools would tell us exactly what they were recruiting for. Many of these schools did not meet those recruiting goals and in talking to them, those monies are still available and will be spent this spring.

I have been told situations are different for position players and pitchers, and my son being a pitcher, probably works more in his favor. I was also told by several D1 coaches that know my sons stats and reputation, that he should not worry about not signing in the fall, there will be plenty of schools looking at him in the spring with money available. In fact, one coach went so far as to advise us not to have him sign this fall unless the offer was significant at a school he really wanted to go to. He counseled restraint and patience.

I guess what I'm saying, is that from what I have seen, and what some coaches are advising, is that the scholarship situation isn't quite as bleak as I think I am reading into yours and other posts.

Cp-
I am not trying to paint a bleak picture for you, I'm trying to paint a realistic one. The one thing that definitely works in your favor is that your boy is a pitcher, it always does!
I think the thing I want to get across most is one of the things that I see constantly in this profession (PLEASE NOTE: I am not saying that this pertains to your situation).

Players/Parents wait around to receive a D1 offer in the spring instead of looking into top D2/D3/JC options that will fit well and allow them to play more.

I hope you son has a tremendous senior season and finds the right college. Look forward to meeting you at the web meeting.

Keep working hard,
Justin Stringer
Do It Right Baseball
www.doitrightbaseball.com
HSBASEBALLWEB Sponsor

I don't know much about how much money is left for D1 scholoships, but I would advise you to contact the school your player wants to attend. We found that expressing our son's true desire to be a part of the program went a long way with his coach. Hope he heals up & has a great season.

CPLZ--

In response to your question I agree completely with LTBB47, nice job crunching numbers. I have been involved in a number of capacities in the recruitment process, and while I do not profess to be an expert in the area, I do have some knowledge. The first few posts on this board to you were indicating that there is plenty of money still there, and in my opinion, this is simply not the case. Some money--yes, maybe. But the doors of opportunity were more open last spring and this summer.

Good luck to you and your son.

When it comes to scholarship money for baseball, what is the true value? Of course we can all use all the financial help we can get, but to a large extent isn't the value of a baseball scholarship more in what the coach has "invested" in you and you will get the opportunity?

I'm not completely up to speed on this but for instance if you qualify for financial aid, isn't the amount of aid you qualify for adjusted for the amount of your baseball scholarship recieved?

Example: Your determined need is say, $5000.00. The coach has offered you 33% scholarship and tuition, room & board = $21,000. In this case, is your scholarship really worth $2000.00 because you would have recieved $5000.00 in aid without baseball in the equation?

I know this doesn't apply to many people because they don't qualify for the aid, but for those who do does this make sense?

Does it work this way? If so doesn't that make the case that the baseball money gives you a leg up on those who are walk-ons, etc., and that is the true value of the offer?

If a kid has a monster spring and other factors all make him an attractive recruit, they will still want you. I guess what the money means to you personally will determine whether or not you accept.

The value of the scholarship is $7,000 (1/3 of $21,000)

The value of the scholarship has nothing to do with whether you will make the team or not.

If you don't make the team, they'll give your scholarship to someone who might make the team next year. (And the value of the rest of your education for the remainder of the year is "free".

The amount of your scholarship is based on the coaches expectations of a players ability to make the team and contribute.

If another player outplays you, the scholarship amount doesn't matter.

Walk-ons walk-on (good English, ain't it?) for a lot of reasons and it's possible they have the talent and desire (nothing to lose)to win a position on the team.

Baseball players, in general, don't get a lot of scholarship "value".

Be thankful for the money and make the most of the chance.

The worst position to be in would be riding the bench with a full scholarship in hand. And, certainly not something I would remind the coach about.

Just a couple of situations, touched on by LTBB47, both deal with the same kid.

A former player of mine was trying to figure out where to go. Try to go D1 or go to a D3/D2 and start right away. A D1 told him he'd have to redshirt year 1, be a backup his "freshman" year, but then have a great shot as being the starter for 3 years. The kid was willing to do that and that situation is playing itself out as planned.

Now, this relates to what LTBB47 mentioned because the kid didn't just choose the school because it was D1, he knew there would be an opening for him...so the situation fit the kid. A lot of kids do not do that.

This kid also has great academics, so he gets some money for that. But baseball scholarship-wise, he was told that he was in line to get one of the Senior's scholarship when the kid graduated. So, back to LTBB47, he is completely right, it is hard to get money. And, it's even harder because that money is there...but it's being transferred within the team from one kid to the next. Now they could take that money and go get another recruit, but it's just an example of why it's harder to get a scholarship.

So for this kid in particular, he did his homework (literally) and it is paying off. That's one example. I'm sure there are many, but hopefully this one helps.

quote:

A D1 told him he'd have to redshirt year 1, be a backup his "freshman" year, but then have a great shot as being the starter for 3 years.

That happens.